UK e-commerce envoy coming RSN

Secret squirrel announcement due in two weeks' time

The government is to appoint its much-touted but long overdue e-commerce envoy in less than a fortnight, The Register has learnt. The announcement will be made at the St John's Innovation Centre in Cambridge on Monday 13 September. The minister responsible for e-commerce, Patricia Hewitt, will be there and The Register understands that a "very senior" member of the Cabinet will also be in attendance too. What's not known is who exactly will be handed the task of acting as an envoy for the UK's wired community. Top civil servant Alex Allan has been widely touted as the man set to take up the new job even though it's reported that he would not be available to take up the post until the New Year. A spokeswoman for 10 Downing Street refused to confirm or deny the details surrounding the appointment. She did say though that invitations for the event (which may or may not be happening -- you decide which you think it is) will be sent out next. She also agreed that Cambridge might be a tad difficult to get too but said that there was lots of other things happening during the day (which may or may not be happening) concerning a host of technology companies. The government will also publish its report "e-commerce@its.best.uk" which was prepared by the Department of Trade and Industry's Performance and Innovation Unit. ®